Flushing device.



P. P. HAWKINS.

PLUSHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1909,

946,130. Patezited-Jan. 11,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES: 7 lA/l/E/VTOR ATTORNEY umasw a GRAHAM cu, PnawmmuncmmixsWASHINGTON. u c.

F. F. HAWKINS. FLUSHIN G DEVICE. APPLICATION rum) JULY 9. 1909.

Patented Jan.11,191 0. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2' WITNESSES. Q/M

ATTORNEY ANDREW, a. emum 00., vummumoamvnms, wAsmMumu. v. c.

Unrrnn sans ra'r neon.

FRANCIS F. HAWKINS, 0F TROY, NEW YORK.

FLUSHING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS F. HAWKINS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Troy, Rensselaer county, New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Flushing Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to flushing devices for furnishing an intermittingsupply of liquid for flushing, scouring or like purposes. It isparticularly adapted to flush tanks used in connection with waterclosets, hoppers, latrines and the like. A flushing device of similarconstruction and function is shown in my application for U. S. patentfiled Aug. 18, 1908, Serial Number %9,125.

The object of the present invention is to improve upon the former deviceby providing means for increasing the volume of water or the likedelivered by a tank of given capacity without lessening the tightness orefficiency of its closure.

A further object is to provide means for readily varying the volume ofliquid delivered.

Other features of the invention will appear in the specification and bepointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying myinvention Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same device onits middle plane; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified formof the device; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of othermodifications; Fig. 7 shows in perspective a part of the device of Fig.6 removed from the tank; in the first six views the front wall of thetank is omitted for clearness of illustration.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 11 designates a closed tank ofapproximately semicylindric form, having a flat wall 12 and a curvedwall 13, the arc of which is circular and extends somewhat more than180. 14 is a stationary partition to which is pivoted at the center ofthe arc of the wall 13, a movable partition or shutter 15, formed at itsfree edge with a notch 16 and provided at each side with a plug 17,which may be of rubber or the like. In the arc-shaped wall 13 of thetank are formed three interiorly projecting bosses 18. 19 and 20, whichmay be conveniently made by a stamping or embossing die, and whichcorrespond in size and position with the notch 16 in the shutter 15, sothat the shutter fits tightly against,

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Application filed July 9, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Serial No. 506,802.

2'. 0., has close moving contact with, those parts of the wall 13 wherethese bosses are located. Exterior of the tank 11 and adjacent the wall12 is a four-way valve 21, of ordinary construction, to which isconnected an inlet pipe 22 leading from a street main, elevated tank orother source of water under pressure, an outlet pipe 23 leading to acloset bowl or the like, and two branch pipes 24, 25, leading into thetank one at each side of the partition 14. Manual means, as a ratchet26, pawl 27, lever 28 and chains 29, are provided for turning the valve21 step by step, so that water may be alternately admitted from theinlet pipe 22 through either of the branch pipes and simultaneouslyexpelled through the other branch pipe and the outlet pipe 23. It willbe noted that the plugs 17 are so placed as to enter and close the endsof the branch pipes 24, 25, and that the bosses 18 and 20 are so placedas to fill the notch 16 when the shutter 15 is in or near either of itsterminal or pipe closing positions. The operation of this form of mydevice is as follows: Assuming that the parts are in the position shownin Fig. 1, the turning of the valve 21 to connect the inlet pipe 22 withthe branch pipe 24 will admit water to the tank at the left of thepartitions 14, 15, thereby forcing the movable partition or shutter 15to the right and expelling the water previously left in the tank throughthe pipes 25 and 23. During the early part of its travel, the notch 16of the shutter is closed by the boss 18, so that the shutter receivesthe full force of the water pressure. After the shutter has moved pastthis boss, as shown in Fig. 2, a portion of the admitted water will flowpast the shutter, which will move with decreased velocity. hen theshutter reaches the central boss 19, the bypass of water will be cut offand the shutter will again receive the full pressure. A second passageof water through the notch and decreased speed of the shutter will occuras the shutter passes between the bosses 19 and 20. Finally the shutterwill move to its pipe closing position, shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1,in close contact with the wall 13 and boss 20, so that the plug 17 willact to firmly close the branch pipe 25. Obviously, the next manual orother operation of the valve 21 will connect the inlet pipe 22 with theright branch pipe 25, and the branch pipe 24, at the left of the figure,with the outlet pipe 23, whereby the shutter 15 will be moved to theleft to its full line position, and the water in the tank together witha portion of the admitted water will be expelled as before. By varyingthe dimensions of the bosses, a tank of given capacity may be arrangedto deliver almost any desired volume of water; while at the same time,the full pressure is employed, both to start the shutter from its pipeclosing position when the water is admitted beneath it and to hold it insuch position until the valve is again operated.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, the tank 31 has a flat wall 12 and isprovided with a four-way valve an d connections like those shown in Fig.1, only the ends of the branch pipes 24:, 25, within the tank being shovn. The wall is of general arc-shape, but is formed with a series oflongitudinal wave-like corrugations 34 except for the true arc-shapedportions 35,35 adjacent its juncture with the wall 12. As before, thestationary portion l-t is s cured to the wall 12, and carries thepivoted shutter 36, provided with plugs 17 to close the ends of thepipes 2-1 and 25, the shutter being of such a length as to have a closemoving fit against the parts 35 of the wall and to touch the innercrests of the corrugations Clearly, the operation of the device will besimilar to that of the form already described, in that the shutter willhave a substantially water-tight tit against the arc-shaped wall. whenin either of its pipe closing positions, and will permit the passage ofwater thereby as it passes between the inner crests of the corrugations3st.

Fig. 4 shows a form of my device in which the flat wall 12, partition li, together with the valve 21 and connected parts, are as before. Thewall 4:3 is of smooth arc-shape, so that the free edge of the shutterfits smoothly thereagainst during its entire travel. Secured to theinner side of the wall 12 are two arc-shaped rods -16, 47, adapted topass into and close an aperture 4:8 in the shutter at?) asit nears itspipe closing position 3 at either end of its path. It will be seen that,as above, the shutter receives the full water pressure in its startingand pipe closing positions, and that a portion of the admitted waterwill pass through the aperture 48 in the shutter during a part of itstravel.

In Fig. 5, the wall 12, partition let, valve 21 and its pipes areunchanged, while the curved wall has a single outwardly projectinghollow boss Set, the shutter sweeping against the entire non-embossedpart of this wall, which includes the ends thereot, where the plugs 17are contacted with the open ends of the branch pipes 2i, In operation,it is clear that some of the admitted water will pass the free edge ofthe shutter through the boss 5% during the intermediate travel of theshutter. The device of Figs. 6 and 7 is similar to that shown l i I I ll i l l i l t i l that the rc-shaped wall 63 is termed with a boss (itthe side and end walls of which are straight. In the top ofthis boss isa nut in which plays a set screw 65, the head of which is exterior tothe tank. The inner end of the screw 65 is free to rotate, but fixed asto longitudinal movement in a plate 66, which forms a piston havingsubstantially water tight lit in the boss O l and adapted to moveradially therein. This piston is curved to correspond with the are ofthe wall 63, and it is obvious that by turning the set screw (35 thewater carrying capacity of the boss 6]- may be varied as desired; or, inother words, the volume of water delivered, in addition to that held bythe tank. may be increased to a greater or less extent.

it will be seen that my device may be set in any position, inverted orotherwise, and in any desired relation to ti o closet or the like to beflushed. Also that many mechanical changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from my invention.

hat I claim is:

v1. A flushing device comprising a closed tank of general arc-shapedcontour; a shutter within said tank and pivoted at substantially thecenter t the are thereof, so as to form a movable partition therein; andalternately operative means, including pipes opening into said tank andalternately closable by "rid shutter, tor admitting water under pressureto said tank through one of said pipes and simultaneously expellingwater through the other of said pipes; said shutter being so constructedwith relation to said tank as to have a substantially watertight fittherein when in either of its pipe closing positions and to permit aportion of the admitted water to pass said shutter during a part of itstravel, substantially tor the purposes set forth.

2. A flushing device comprising a closed tank of general arc-shapedcontour; a shutter within said tank and pivoted at substantially thecenter of the arc thermt, so as to form a movable partition therein; andalternately operative neaus, including pipes opening into said tank andalternately closable by said shutter, tor admitting water under pressureto said tank through one of said pipes and simultaneously expellingwater through the other of said pipes; said shutter being so constructedwith relation to the wall of said tank as to have a substantiallywater-tight fit therein when in either of its pipe closing positions andto permit a portion of the admitted water to pass thereby during a partof its travel, substantially for the purposes set forth.

3. A flushing device comprising a closed tank of general arcshapedcontour and having a hollow boss in one of its walls; a shutter withinsaid tank and pivoted at substanin Fig. 5, and similarly numbered,except tially the center of the arc thereof, so as to form a movablepartition therein; and alternately operative means, including pipesopening into said tank and alternately closable by said shutter, foradmitting water under pressure to said tank through one of said pipesand simultaneously expelling water through the other of said pipes; saidshutter being so constructed with relation to said bossed wall as tohave a substantially water-tight fit therein when in either of its pipeclosing positions and to permit a portion of the admitted water to passthereby during a part of its travel, substantially for the purposes setforth.

l. A flushing device comprising a closed tank of general arc-shapedcontour and having an outwardly projecting hollow boss in one of itswalls; a shutter within said tank and pivoted at substantially thecenter of the arc thereof, so as to form a movable partition therein;and alternately operative means, including pipes opening into said tankand alternately closable by said shutter, for admitting water underpressure to said tank through one of said pipes and simultaneouslyexpelling water through the other of said pipes; said shutter beingfitted for close moving contact with the non-embossed portion of thewalls of said tank when in either of its pipe closing positions; saidboss being adapted to permit a portion of the admitted water to passsaid shutter during a part of its travel, substantially for the purposesset forth.

5. A flushing device comprising a closed tank of general arc-shapedcontour; a shutter within said tank and pivoted at substantially thecenter of the arc thereof, so as to form a movable partition therein;and alternately operative means, including pipes opening into said tankand alternately closable by said shutter, for admitting water underpressure to said tank through one of said pipes and simultaneouslyexpelling water through the other of said pipes; said shutter being soconstructed with relation to said tank as to have a substantiallywatertight fit therein when in either of its pipe closing positions andto permit a portion of the admitted water to pass said shutter during apart of its travel; and means for regulating the volume of water sopermitted to pass said shutter, substantially for the purposes setforth.

6. A flushing device comprising a closed tank of general arc-shapedcontour; a shutter within said tank and pivoted at substantially thecenter of the arc thereof, so as to form a movable partition therein;and alternately operative means, including pipes opening into said tankand alternately closable by said shutter, for admitting water underpressure to said tank through one of said pipes and simultaneouslyexpelling water through the other of said pipes; said shutter being soconstructed with relation to said tank as to have a substantiallywater-tight fit therein when in either of its pipe closing positions andto permit a portion of the admitted water to pass said shutter during apart of its travel; and means adjustable from the exterior of said tankfor regulating the volume of water so permitted to pass said shutter,substantially for the purposes set forth.

7. A flushing device comprising a closed tank of general arc-shapedcontour and having an outwardly projecting hollow boss in one of itswalls; a shutter within said tank and pivoted at substantially thecenter of the arc thereof, so as to form a movable partition therein;alternately operative means including pipes opening into said tank andalternately closable by said shutter, for admitting water under pressureto said tank through one of said pipes and simultaneously expellingwater through the other of said pipes; said shutter being fitted forclose moving contact with the non-embossed portion of the walls of saidtank when in either of its pipe closing positions; said boss beingadapted to permit a portion of the admitted water to pass said shutterduring a part of its travel; and a movable part within said boss andadjustable from the exterior of said tank for varying the water carryingcapacity of said boss, substantially for the purposes set forth.

FRANCIS F. HAWKINS.

Witnesses:

Gno. L. CooPER, BESSIE M. TOLHURST.

